How to Buy Furniture the Green Way

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, replacing furniture to keep up with trends, or because one was bored with some item, was unthinkable. Since the rise of the Industrial Revolution, however, Americans have been coached to regularly replace old items with new. Advertisements lure us with their seductive call to update our boring old unstylish looks with bargains “we cannot afford to miss!” A glut of television shows and magazines teach us how to decorate and keep current with the most stylish and current trends. Instead of reupholstering worn sofa cushions, most of us throw out the sofa and replace it with a brand new one. rnFor the majority of the population, replacing furnishings on a regular basis is only possible if buying inexpensive furniture. Unfortunately, cheap furniture is generally poorly made and environmentally unsound. When the cushions of a cheaply-made sofa show signs of wear, it probably does not make sense to spend money to reupholster the piece because the insides—springs, frame, batting—are probably worn as well. So, you shop for another “bargain” sofa and your old piece gets tossed into a landfill. rnIdeally, furniture should last your lifetime and beyond. Purchasing only high quality furniture makes that feasible. Spend time shopping, reading books and magazines, and on the Internet if you do not already know what style or styles of furniture you like. Consider avoiding trendy pieces of furniture that you will tire of quickly. For upholstered pieces, choose patterns and colors that you love—not the current year’s color. For variety, consider changing or rotating pillow covers and accessories occasionally. Good furniture is an investment and you will never tire of beautiful well-crafted pieces. rnIf you cannot afford to buy new, good quality furniture, purchase second-hand. Frequent the Goodwill, Salvation Army or other second-hand furniture stores and tag sales, and don’t forget your neighbor’s yard on trash day! Used furniture and many other items can be found online at a world-wide, non-profit organization called www.freecycle.org. Log on and join a group in your area. Post items that you no longer want on Freecycle and people in your area will contact you and arrange to pick the things up. If you are in need of items, log on to Freecycle and see what is available or post what you are looking for. Either way, it’s all free. rnGreat deals can be found on furniture that is not in perfect condition. Learn how to refurnish furniture or have a local shop do the work for you. Just make sure that the refinishing products used on the furniture are non-toxic (see “Resources”). You have countless choices when you refurnish pieces, as you can select the stain or color of the furniture, or choose the perfect fabric if you are redoing upholstered pieces. In addition, a second-hand purchase is an environmentally-kind choice! rnThe only pieces of furniture that I would not recommend purchasing second-hand would be a mattress and bed. All used furniture holds the previous owner’s energy, but the energy in a mattress and bed is particularly strong, as we spend so much time in bed. Technically, anything can be cleared of old energy but it is still a better idea to be cautious and purchase new. rnIf you cannot afford a new mattress or bed, consider a cotton, or better yet, organic cotton futon as an alternative to a regular mattress. rnIf you dislike a piece of furniture, give it away! Good quality furniture will always be welcome in someone else’s home. While cheap furniture ends up in a landfill (leeching toxic chemicals into the ground), good quality furniture can be donated to charity, given away or sold. rnTomorrow, I will post on specific materials to use or avoid when purchasing furniture. Excerpt from Harmonious Environment, copyright 2007.